PACKAGING

                    A young man was getting ready to
                    graduate from college. For many months
                    he had admired a beautiful sports car
                    in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his
                    father could well afford it, he told
                    him that was all he wanted.

                    As Graduation Day approached, the young
                    man awaited signs that his father had
                    purchased the car. Finally, on the morning
                    of his graduation, his father called him
                    into his private study. His father told
                    him how proud he was to have such a fine
                    son, and told him how much he loved him.

                    He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift
                    box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed,the
                    young man opened the box and found a lovely,
                    leather-bound Bible, with the young man's
                    name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his
                    voice to his father and said,"With all your
                    money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out
                    of the house, leaving the Bible.

                    Many years passed and the young man was very
                    successful in business. He had a beautiful home
                    and wonderful family, but realized his father
                    was very old, and thought perhaps he should go
                    to him. He had not seen him since that graduation

                    day.
                    Before he could make arrangements, he received a
                    telegram telling him his father had passed away,
                    and willed all of his possessions to his son. He
                    needed to come home immediately and take care of
                    things.

                    When he arrived at his father's house, sudden
                    sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to
                    search through his father's important papers and
                    saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it
                    years ago.

                    With tears, he opened the Bible and began to
                    turn the pages. His father had carefully
                    underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, "And if ye,
                    being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
                    children, how much more shall your Heavenly
                    father which is in heaven, give to those who
                    ask Him?"

                    As he read those words, a car key dropped from
                    the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the
                    dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports

                    car he had desired.  On the tag was the date of
                    his graduation, and the words
                                    ...PAID IN FULL.

                    How many times do we miss God's blessings because
                    they are not packaged as we expected?